Toxicología ambiental y analítica

The levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water, sediment, Nile Tilapia and African Catfishes were assessed to estimate possible consumer exposures and potential health implications from the Volta Lake, Ghana using gas chromatography equipped with 63Ni electron-capture detector. In agreement with their lipophilic nature, higher levels of OCPs were measured in fish samples than water and sediment samples. Heptachlor was the highest level of OCP measured with concentration of 37.75 ng/g in tilapia gill followed by δ-HCH in tilapia muscle and catfish muscle respectively. All OCP residues in tilapia muscle and catfish muscle did not differ significantly (p<0.05). The highest total OCP load of 66.70 ng/g was measured in tilapia muscle, followed by 63.44 ng/g for tilapia gill. This observation however, contradicts the lipophilic nature of OCPs since the fat content of tilapia gill (14.49%) was five times that of muscle tissues (2.80%). Gill tissues however, may be serving as channels to absorb and distribute OCPs to various fatty tissues in the anatomy and physiology of fish. In water a sample δ-HCH was the highest OCP determined with concentration of 0.669 μg/L. DDT was not detected in both water and sediment samples but was however measured in fish samples. This could be attributed to historical use since DDD and DDE were measured in higher concentrations. From the consumer exposure analysis, the water from the lake is relatively safe for domestic, agricultural and ranching since the acute risk ratio for all detected OCP residues were less than one. The Nile tilapia and African catfishes from this lake are also comparatively safe for human consumption because the estimated dietary intakes from this study are far below the corresponding acceptable dietary intakes for various OCPs. This study therefore shows a declining trend on the environmental burden of OCPs in the middle section of the Volta Lake.

Carbon dioxide has become the major problem because decades, destructing kinds of living conditions as well as methods. Between all sorts connected with pollutions, rock smog can be causing significant danger on the biosphere. It's mostly lead a result of the relieve connected with Professional wastes into your atmosphere. Industries follow a variety of element procedures to remove dangerous contaminants from the professional effluents related to a variety of cons as a result numerous eco-friendly strategies have fallen directly into gentle maintaining a result of the cons in the element strategies. Biosorption connected with large materials simply by microbial tissue has become thought to be the likely substitute for present technologies pertaining to retrieval connected with large materials coming from professional waste. Found assessment targets on the biosorption connected with different materials simply by different means that result in the ecofriendly clear in the atmosphere without causing any destruction therefore on the surroundings/without the relieve connected with substances into your atmosphere, this post mostly handles the biosorption connected with Fe, Cr(VI), You, Pb, Cu2+, Cd(II), Mn, Zn, National insurance, Lanthanides, National insurance and the function of the technique throughout clearing up in the atmosphere.

Ultrafine particles (<100 nm) have special properties that nanotechnologies seek to exploit. However, due to their nanometric scale, these particles can be deposited in the lungs and cause damage. Based on current knowledge, occupational exposure to nanoparticles occurs mainly in workplaces handling nanomaterials, or when certain processes generate them indirectly. However, there are currently no limit values for exposure to ultrafine particles. To limit worker exposure, respiratory protective devices (RPD) are generally used. The aim of this study was to determine if (a) a laboratory test bench and (b) a simulated occupational exposure setup were reliable representations undesirable exposure in workplace. Thus, two tests benches were used to compare on the one hand conventional measurements and on the other hand sanding- simulation process measurements. NaCl aerosols were generated and then used to measure penetration with constant flow at 43 L/min, 85 L/min and 135 L/min, and one cyclic flow defined by 85 L/min as the mean inhalation flow. The results showed that initial penetrations were less than 5%, as required by the certification. The results also showed that there was a high correlation between the two penetration measurements. One also notes that the measurements had a slightly higher maximum penetration with a charge- neutralized NaCl aerosol than with an un-neutralized NaCl aerosol. The charged-neutralized particles constituted the worst-case scenario exposure.

Air pollution has a category of pollutants called particulate matter (PM) emitted into the environment as one of the six principal pollutants. High concentrations of PM, of any category, can be found in natural and anthropogenic phenomenon known as dust storms. Such concentrations in this phenomenon can reach 6000 μg/m3, and at the same time large amounts of dust that accumulate in these events, reduce visibility at one kilometer, and also the path followed by this dust can reach distances exceeding thousands of kilometers. Recent epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between particulate matter and the environment in their health effects. For full extent implies the presence of PM in our daily lives, the objective of this review article is to present the information necessary to determine techniques that focus on monitoring air quality during dust storms and other events with similar characteristics, based on experiments conducted by researchers around the world in agriculture, industrial and unpaved zones.

Water quality impairment from nonpoint source pollution is one of the critical causes of surface water eutrophication in rivers and lakes surrounding agricultural area, Korea. In the Songchon Constructed Wetland (SCW) located in Yeongsan (YS) watershed which has about 1,000 km2 (total watershed area: 3,471 km2) for agricultural area, 19 times of intensive field monitoring in 2010 were conducted with various rainfall patterns and about more 1,000 water samples were measured and analyzed in field and laboratory. To identify the relationship between meteorological conditions and removal efficiency of the constructed wetland, principal component analysis (PCA) and ternary plot analysis was used for 19 field experiment data. Mean treatment performance of TSS, BOD5, COD, TN, and TP was 16.4%, 42.1%, 43.7%, 36.6%, and 57.1%, respectively, as a method of pollutant load reduction for multiple tests of storm events. PCA results revealed that rainfall depth, rainfall intensity, and antecedent dry days (ADDs) can be major components as a representative in each component. Also, ternary contour plots results showed that the treatment performance of SCW in agricultural area during storm events can be affected by three meteorological conditions. These results and phenomena can be applicable to develop the NPS discharge model and to elucidate the relationship between rainfall and storm water runoff using rain radar in a drainage area.

Introduction: There is an evidence to support the health benefits of diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts. Plant-based foods are complex mixtures of bioactive phytochemicals. The potential health effects of individual phytochemicals, their combinations or combinations of phytochemicals and others drugs is studied in detail. Ellagic acid belongs to the group of bioactive polyphenols in fruit: strawberries, raspberries, grapes, black currant and walnuts. Curcumin is a natural compound extracted from the root of Curcuma longa plant.

Methods: We perform in vitro Ames test and in vivo micronucleus test toward three mutagens/carcinogens, aflatoxin B1 and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline and N-nitroso-N-methylurea to prove an antimutagenic effect of ellagic acid, curcumin and their combinations.

Results: We verified the dose dependent antimutagenic effect of ellagic acid, curcumin and their combinations in both tests. The significantly increased effect of some combinations on the mutagenicity of indirect mutagens in the Ames test and on the direct mutagenicity of MNU in the micronucleus test, as compared with effect of ellagic acid or curcumin used separately, was also ascertained.

In the present study melamine–formaldehyde-tetraoxalyl-ethylene diamine (MFT) covered activated carbon (MFT/AC) was prepared by the use of ultrasonic waves. The prepared materials were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that MFT was symmetrically covered the surface of the activated carbon. MFT/AC was examined for the removal of chromium and zinc ions from their aqueous solution in the presence and absence of ultrasonic waves. The effects of initial pH of the heavy metal solution, ultrasonic time and ultrasonic frequency on the efficiency of the removal were studied. The results showed that, using ultrasonic waves of 210 KHz for sonication time 30 minutes showed higher removal efficiency towards Cr3+ and Zn2+ ions than unsonicated treatment. The removal of Cr3+ ions was higher than that of Zn2+ ions. The removal process was done via chelating with MFT in the prepared carbon composite

The bactericidal and fungicidal properties of silver (Ag) and Ag salt colloids make them popular choices for a variety of applications including water purification, bio-medical therapies for burns, epilepsy, mental illness, gastroenteritis, syphilis and gonorrhea, amongst other diseases. In addition, individuals deliberately drink colloidal Ag and Ag salts in the belief that this self- therapy will be beneficial. Despite this widespread usage, very little is known about the impact of this metal on human gut consortia. Here we investigated the impact of Ag chloride colloids, at several concentrations, on a defined anaerobic and facultative anaerobic gut bacterial community developed from the collected stool of a healthy donor. Defined microbial ecosystem therapeutic- 1 (MET-1) consortia were exposed to different concentrations of colloidal Ag (25-200 mg/L) for 48 hrs and compared to unamended cultures. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases recovered from the headspace of anaerobic cultures were analyzed by an Agilent Technologies 7890B Gas Chromatograph. Fatty acid methyl ester profiles were extracted following the MIDI Sherlock Microbial Identification System protocol and detected by gas chromatography. Colloidal AgCl toxicity was also monitored by a suite of DNA analyses including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragment 454-pyrosequencing. Colloidal AgCl had an overall deleterious impact on MET-1 bacterial abundance and their metabolic activities as evidenced by the 20 - 78% reduction in CO2 respiration and significant (p<0.01) changes in fatty acid profiles, including a greater reduction (15 - 100%) in most Gram negative signatures compared to controls. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis produced from PCR-DGGE profile-based DNA analysis, as well as gene sequencing also demonstrated the negative impact of colloidal Ag on MET-1, resulting in a shift in the community structure, including the apparent elimination of some beneficial species. Together, this research suggests that deliberate or inadvertent colloidal Ag ingestion could have a potential negative impact on our overall digestive health.

Occupational exposures to diisocyanates may cause allergic asthma. Inhalation challenges are the most important tool for the diagnosis of occupational asthma due to diisocyanates. Various diisocyanate atmospheres can be generated at IPA. A multi-steps exposure protocol is used, the dosage is constantly monitored and adjusted if necessary. The quasi-online monitoring of concentrations of airborne diisocyanates in the laboratory is done with a paper-tape monitor, which is widely used in laboratories that perform inhalation challenges worldwide, but also for monitoring of threshold limits at workplaces. The analyzer MDA 7100 (Zellweger Analytics, Inc., Lincolnshire, USA) is no longer supported by the producer. It was replaced by the successor model Single Point Monitor (Honeywell Analytics, Inc., Lincolnshire, USA), but comparative measurements are not available. It was the aim of this study to compare both paper-tape monitors with a discontinuous standard procedure. Comparative measurements between the two paper-tape monitors showed that the newer model yielded lower concentrations than the old device. Both paper-tape monitors yielded lower values than the reference method at concentrations > 10 ppb. The old monitor detected 68%, the new device 38% of the average concentration of the standard method at 36.7 ppb. We conclude that the differences between the measurements with the new paper-tape monitor and the standard method are important above concentrations of about 10 ppb. For monitoring of diisocyanate concentrations < 5 ppb at workplaces, the deviations are negligible.

Lead is very toxic heavy metal and commonly found in the polluted soil and water. It harms the plants as well as animals and micro-organisms. Presence of lead in the soil may be the main reason for decrease in the agricultural products. Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal released into the natural environment and known to cause oxidative damage and alter antioxidant mechanism in plants. Lead (Pb) is one of the most important heavy metals frequently available in the environment and its most common sources are vehicles and automobiles. However, not much is known about the interference of Pb with the biochemical processes and carbohydrate metabolism during seed germination. Lead enters the plants through soil and damages the mechanisms of plants and when animals eat these plants then lead transfer in them and cause major disorders. This study was conducted to find out the compounds with antitoxic properties. An experiment was conducted to reveal the antitoxic effect of Salicylic acid in Pea (Pisum sativum L.). It was noticed that Salicylic Acid showed its action selectively in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and it was detected that salicylic acid displayed selective action on plant growth parameters in pea. The highest plant height 61.34 cm was observed after 44 days of the combined application of lead and salicylic acid and lowest value for plant height i.e., 7.15 cm was observed after 20 days of the combined application of lead and salicylic acid similarly highest numbers of tendrils (29.34) were observed after the 44 days of combined application of lead and salicylic acid. The same trend was observed with respect to number of leaves i.e., 45.78 and 13.56 after 44 and 20 days respectively.

The phenol-formaldehyde/silicon dioxide resin (PFSR) adsorbent showed superior adsorption properties for Pb (II) ion. The aimed composite material was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM and BET techniques. Sorption properties of the synthesized composite powder were evaluated through sorption of lead ions from their aqueous solutions. Batch sorption tests were carried out at different initial heavy metal ion concentrations revealing that the synthesized composite has great selectivity to lead ions. The experimentally obtained sorption results were analyzed using pseudofirst and second order kinetic models to stand on the possible sorption mechanisms indicating the sorption behavior of the studied ions onto PFSR composite belonged to the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the sorption process was a chemical process. Isotherm plots were constructed and analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, D-R and Jovanoic isotherm models. The D-R and Temkin isotherm model provided the best fit for the Pb(II) ion, revealing the maximum adsorption capacity of 13.74 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies revealed that Pb(II) adsorption on the PFSR adsorbent is a favorable, spontaneous, and endothermic process.

In the recent times, arsenic poisoning due to contaminated ground water in the middle Gangetic plain has resulted to lots of health related problems in the population. In Bihar (India), about 16 districts have been reported to be affected with arsenic poisoning. In the present study, Tilak Rai Ka Hatta village, a flood plain Diara region of river Ganga in Buxar district was targeted for the ground water arsenic assessment and health related problems assessments among the village population. Altogether, 120 water samples were randomly collected for arsenic estimation and their results were statistically analysed. While for assessment of health related problems in the village people, 120 biological samples (blood) were collected from the same households. The study showed high contamination of arsenic in the ground water as three fourth region of the entire village had arsenic levels more than 100 ppb. The typical symptoms of hyperkeratosis in the palm and sole, melanosis of the skin in the village people were highly prevalent. In the population, there was prevalence of cancer and infertility cases. The assessment of blood samples exhibited severe hormonal imbalance among the village population. Present study thus concludes that, arsenic poisoning in entire village has caused severe health hazards to the village population. It has not only caused skin diseases or cancer but the entire population has threat over the infertility due to hormonal imbalance. So, a proper strategy is immediately required to cater the severity of the arsenic poisoning in this village.

The objective of this work is to study the opposite effect of Selenium on the toxicity induced by zinc in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Twenty rabbits were given repeated per os (p.o.) administration, five with zinc chloride at 0.24 mg/Kg/day, five with 0.05 μg/kg/day of selenium, five with mixture (ZnCl2/Se) 0.24mg/kg+0.05μg/kg/day and five rabbits served as controls. In the present study, Hepatotoxic effect of zinc chloride translated by a decrease of body weight (weight gain), a decreased of lipid rate, an increased in carbohydrate amount and proteins level in the liver. The pro-oxidant effect of zinc chloride on hepatocytes was first investigated. The gavage of ZnCl2 into rabbits at the dose of 0.24 mg/kg/day, induced stress by a significant reduction of GST, CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, glutathione (GSH) level. In addition, a significant increase in malonedialdehyde (MDA) levels was observed, (index of lipid peroxidation). On the other hand, the supplementation of selenium (Se) 0.05 μg/kg/day orally in rabbits treated with zinc has improved some biochemical parameters and decreased the other harmful effects of zinc; selenium seems to be a simple and effective antioxidant to reduce the imbalance state between the formation of free radicals and antioxidant systems.

The present study was carried outto determine various physico-chemical parameters and water quality indexof the western part of Ahmedabad District to examinethe quality of water for public consumption, recreation and other purposes. This study deals with the influence of environmental factors as well as domestic activities in the water quality in the related area.

It is well known that allelochemicals or xenobiotics such as systemic pesticides, veterinary remedies etc., are taken up by plants from the soil. However, information is lacking as to whether or not this uptake of organic compounds represents an isolated, singular event, or if it is a general phenomenon. Just recently, it was shown that nicotine, leached out from rotting tobacco into the soil, is taken up in the same manner. The question arises if other natural products, such as alkaloids, phenols or terpenes might be imported in the same manner. This may be particularly relevant for all the substances that are leached from decomposing plants. In this paper, the novel concept of “horizontal transfer of natural substances” based on the uptake of alkaloids derived from decaying plant materials is illustrated: after plant death, the soluble substances - including all natural products - are leached out from the decompartmented plant remains into the soil and are taken up by other plants. Related nutritional aspects as well as the significance of this phenomenon for our understanding of allelopathy are addressed.

Hawassa Textile Factory discharges virtually treated effluent into the nearby receiving environment. A study was carried out to assess the physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels of effluent released from biological treatment lagoon of the Factory. Heavy metals concentrations in sediment and macrophyte of the nearby stream to which the textile effluent is directed was also measured. Results indicated that some physico-chemical parameters such as pH, PO4, conductivity and TDS of the waste water from the two sampling sites were above provisional discharge limits set at national and/or international levels. The concentration of almost all detected heavy metals in samples analyzed from both sites generally followed the order: sediment > macrophytes > flowing waste water. The heavy metals levels detected in sediment samples from both sites followed the order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in macrophytes followed the same order as in sediment while the sequence in waste water followed the order: Cu > Mn > Zn > Cr. However, Pb and Cd were below detection limit in both macrophytes and waste water samples. Even though the concentrations of heavy metals in samples analyzed were below acceptable ranges of the provisional discharge limits, their accumulation over time and the potential threat on environment health and disruption of ecological integrity was overemphasized. This study suggests quick intervention and closes monitoring to arrest and solve the growing environmental pollution and associated problems in the area.

This study was aimed to estimate current status of physico-chemical characteristic of Sarkhej Roza lake, District Ahmedabad, India. Monthly changes in physicochemical parameters such as water temperature, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, chlorides, phosphate, nitrates, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand were analyzed for a period of one year from September 2013 to August 2014. The results indicated that physico-chemical parameters of the water were within the permissible limits and can be used for domestic and irrigation. Correlation coefficient indicates showed positive and negative relationship.

The study was conducted to assess the contamination of Tsada Agam River by trace metals. Trace metals were found in water samples in the following concentrations (in mg/L): Co, 0.02-0.03; Pb, 0.01-0.06; Zn, 0.21-0.50; Fe, 0.30- 5.18; Mn, 0.10-0.15; Cu, 0.015-0.018 and Cd, 0.01-0.015. Trace metals were also found in soil samples (in mg/kg): Cu, 34.50-36.83; Pb, 1.17-3.42; Co, 29.75-31.53; Ni, 12.42-26.30; Mn, 616.06-811.30; Cr, 37.01-42.92; Cd, 13.87-14.55; Fe, 33563.53-3696 and Zn, 283.50-495.33. In vegetable samples the levels of trace metals were (in mg/kg): Cu, 3.00- 14.67; Co, 9.33-38.31; Ni, 0.29-1.78; Mn, 30.93-346.90; Zn, 15.67-285.67; Pb, 0.14-2.67; Cd, 3.79-11.01; Fe, 46.67- 730.00 and Cr, 2.53-5.72. Cadmium in water samples was beyond the limits of WHO/FAO for drinking and irrigation; Cd, Fe and Zn in soil samples was above the limits of Ewers and Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe and Cr concentrations in vegetables were above the limits given by Weigert. The calculated HRI values for Cd (Site-2 and 3) and Mn (site-1 and 3) were 1.4 and 1.7 and 2.0 and 3.78, respectively, indicating a health risk of Cd and Mn exposure. Therefore, regular monitoring of trace metals is essential to prevent excessive build-up in the food chain and to protect public health.

The present study was conducted for investigating spatiotemporal variations in the groundwater levels recorded on monthly basis during 2006-2013 in northern parts of Punjab, India, comprising of 3 districts viz., Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. The entire data of 8 years was divided into three seasons: pre-monsoon (February-May), monsoon (June-September) and post monsoon (October-January). It was observed in Gurdaspur district that the groundwater level depths increased in monsoon seasons with an overall variation range of 0.22% to 9.67%. In Amritsar district, in monsoon season, the highest increase of 6.22% in groundwater level depth was found in the Ajanala block and least increase of 0.36% in Tarshika, while in Tarn Taran district, the highest increase of 3.87% in groundwater level depth was found in the Noushera Pannua block and least increase of 0.95% was found in Tarn Taran block. The groundwater level decreased in the range of 0.15 m to 1.80 m with an annual decrease in groundwater level in the range of 0.02 m to 0.23 m. The increase in groundwater level depth in monsoon seasons was found due to extreme usage in irrigation for rice crop and the recharging of aquifers is not speedy. However, it has also been observed that the groundwater level rises again in the post monsoon season due to the groundwater resilience of the aquifers. Besides this, the extensive recharge in the area is observed by Ravi and Beas rivers because of perennial nature. A regular monitoring of groundwater in different seasons of the year and its spatiotemporal analysis is required for adopting the appropriate management practices including conjunctive use of surface and groundwater for maintaining its sustainability.

Dairy wastewater effluent has become one of the major concerns for the dairy processing industries. Because of large of wastewater effluent generation, the dairy processing industries may become potential candidates for wastewater reuse. Treated wastewater can be utilized in cooling systems and washing plant floor, as well its potential use for greenery irrigation purposes. In addition, treating dairy effluent will also benefit the environment. The purpose of this study is to characterize wastewater from a selected dairy industry in Kuwait (KD Cow Company) and a study of applying microfiltration treatment process for treating the dairy wastewater. A complete treatment system including biological treatment, powdered activated carbon (PAC) and submerged membrane microfiltration system (CMF-S) was installed at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) research plant. The overall results of this study indicate that the complete system is capable of treating the dairy effluent. The average removal efficiencies of the system for biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solid (TDS) were 98.8%, 92.5%, 96.7% respectively